Viburnum odoratissimum plant named ‘VOC1’

ABSTRACT

‘VOC1’ is a distinctive variety of  Viburnum odoratissimum  which is characterized by the combination of a smaller overall plant size, a denser plant habit, a smaller leaf size and the strong expression of red anthocyanin pigments in immature foliage growth.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Viburnum odoratissimum.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Viburnum odoratissimumdisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘VOC1’.

The present application claims priority from a provisional U.S. Plantapplication No. 61/818,132 filed May 1 2013, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Viburnumodoratissimum, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘VOC1’.Viburnum odoratissimum is a well-known evergreen shrub or small treespecies that is native to Asia. It is a favorite among many homegardeners and landscape professionals in the southern United States andin other semi-tropical areas for creating ornamental hedges due to itsfast growth habit, dense foliage when regularly pruned, and its fragrantclusters of small white flowers that appear in spring. At maturity andwhen left unpruned, the species can reach upwards of 9 m tall and 6 mwide. The common name of this species is Sweet Viburnum due to itsextremely fragrant, small white flowers that virtually cover the entireplant in spring.

Parentage: In March 2003 seed that resulted from an open pollination ofViburnum odoratissimum (unnamed, common form) was sown at a nursery inDural, New South Wales, Australia and the resulting progeny were grownto a sellable size. In August 2005, the selection now called ‘VOC1’ wasobserved to have a more compact and denser growth habit and smallerleaves when compared to the parent and other sibling progeny; saidselection was isolated for further observation. It was further grown,and subsequently observed from August 2005 and August 2011 at which timeit was determined that the characteristics for which it was originallyselected were uniform and stable.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘VOC1’ was first asexually reproduced by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings in spring 2005 at the applicant's nursery inDural, New South Wales, Australia to see if it grew true to type. It wasfound to grow uniform and reproduce in a stable manner and 5 successivecycles of vegetative propagation have also proven to be true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘VOC1’ is a distinctive variety of Viburnum odoratissimum which ischaracterized by the combination of a smaller overall plant size, adenser plant habit, a smaller leaf size and the strong expression of redanthocyanin pigments in immature foliage growth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a comparison between an exemplary ‘VOC1’ plant (on left)and comparator, common-form Viburnum odoratissimum (on right) plants ofthe same age. Clearly visible are the smaller plant size, smaller leavesand denser growth habit of ‘VOC1’.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color photographs of this type, the strong anthocyaninintonations of the new foliage of ‘VC01’.

FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make thesame in color photographs of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of‘VC01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Viburnum odoratissimum ornamental plant known as ‘VOC1’.Plant observations were made on plants grown in New South Wales,Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed hereinare based upon observations made from 3 year-old mature ‘VOC1’ plantsgrown in full sun from rooted cuttings in 400 mm nursery pots filledwith soilless potting media, maintained with granular slow releasefertilizer and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest anddisease measures were taken. Observation data was recorded in the fallof 2013 (southern hemisphere).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘VOC1’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition. Note that genericcolor descriptions such as ‘white’ do not exist in the R.H.S. charts andthe corresponding RHS colors are quoted.

GROWTH HABIT, DIMENSIONS AND COLOR

-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Shrub, erect and very dense.        -   Height.—Approximately 3.5 m.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.0 m.        -   Bloom period.—Spring.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9b to 11.        -   Environmental tolerances.—‘VOC1’ has not yet been observed            under all conditions but has shown to be heat tolerant,            adapting well to temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit            without any noticeable damage. It has survived light to            moderate frosts and temperatures down to 20 degrees            Fahrenheit.        -   Drought tolerance.—‘VOC1’ has not yet been observed under            all conditions but it has shown good drought tolerance            typical of the species once established.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—In common            with the species, none of note.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood stem            cuttings. Roots well using rooting hormone compounds.        -   Time to develop roots.—4 to 6 weeks.        -   Crop time.—From 18 to 24 months are needed to produce a            well-rooted 400 mm pot, starting from a rooted cutting,            depending on geographic location.-   Stems: Freely-branched; orientation is upward with acute branch    angles that generally approximate to 25 degrees. Stem shape is    cylindrical; texture is corky; thornless; the color of stems at 10    nodes below active growing point is closest to greyed-orange 177A    whereas newly emerged of current year's stems are closest to    yellow-green 144A (R.H.S. 1986 edition). Stem dimensions at 10 nodes    below active growing point are 45 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide.    Internode length averages 5.9 mm.-   Leaf: The simple leaves are arranged oppositely and leaf attachment    is petiolate with petioles that are 10 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide;    stipules absent. Shape of the leaf is elliptical to ovate; apex is    acuminate and the base is attenuate; margins are serrate; venation    is reticulate with secondary veins having generally the same color    as the surrounding foliage while the midrib color at all stages is    yellow-green 144B (R.H.S. 1986 edition). All surfaces of both    immature and mature foliage are smooth and glabrous. Average length    of mature leaves is 70 mm and the average width is 34 mm. Immature    foliage color of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces is best described    as a combination of yellow-green 144A (R.H.S. 1986 edition) and    greyed-red 181B (R.H.S. 1986 edition) with the predominant color    being greyed-red. Mature foliage color of the adaxial surface is    yellow-green corresponding to RHS 147A (R.H.S. 1986 edition) and the    abaxial surface is green 148C (R.H.S. 1986 edition). The color of    secondary veins in immature foliage is closest to a combination of    RHS 144A and 181B. The color of the secondary veins in mature    foliage is closest to 147A on the adaxial surface and 148C on the    abaxial surface.-   Roots: Fibrous root system.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   General.—Panicles with clusters of approximately 80 to 100            small white fragrant flowers that arise either terminally or            at apices of short lateral branchlets from approximately            late spring through early summer; pyramidal in shape.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 80 to 100 mm tall and 70 to 80 mm            wide.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Approximately 90 to 100 mm long,            excluding the panicle, and 8 to 12 mm in diameter at the            base. Color — Yellow-green RHS 145B. Texture and pubescence            — Smooth; glabrous.        -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — Approximately 8 to 11 mm long and 2.5            mm in diameter at the base. Color — Yellow-green RHS 145B.            Texture and pubescence — Smooth; glabrous.-   Buds:    -   -   Bud dimensions.—Approximately 5 mm long and 3.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Bud shape.—Obovate.        -   Bud color.—Green-white RHS 157A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type.—Single.        -   Flower shape.—Salverform to campanulate.        -   Persistence.—Individual flowers persist for approximately            one month.        -   Flower aspect.—Flowers are held upright.        -   Fragrance.—Light, fruity or sweet fragrance.        -   Sepals.—Sepal arrangement — Whorled. Number of sepals —            Five. Sepal dimensions — Approximately 2.0 to 2.25 mm long            and 2.0 mm wide. Sepal margin — Entire. Sepal shape —            Deltoid. Sepal apex — Acute. Sepal texture and pubescence —            Smooth; glabrous. Sepal color, upper surface — Yellow-green            RHS 144D. Sepal color, under surface — Yellow-green RHS            144D.        -   Corolla.—Diameter — Ranging from approximately 6.5 mm to 7.5            mm across the corolla. Depth of corolla tube — 1.5 to            2.0 mm. Petal quantity — Five. Petal arrangement — Whorled.        -   Petals.—Petal dimensions — Approximately 3 mm long and 3 mm            wide. Petal shape — Orbicular to obovate. Petal margin —            Entire; slightly undulated. Petal apex — Obtuse. Petal            texture and luster — Smooth; matte. Petal color when opening            (upper side) — White RHS 157C. Petal color when opening            (under side) — White RHS 157C. Petal color when fully opened            (upper side) — White RHS 155A. Petal color when fully opened            (under side) — White RHS 155A. Petal color fading to — Not            fading.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Stamen quantity — Five. Filament — Approximately            2.5 mm long and width is less than 0.5 mm. Anther shape —            Irregular; oblong to globular. Anther size — About 1.25 mm            long. Anther color — Greyed-purple RHS 184D. Pollen — Not            observed.        -   Pistil.—Pistil quantity — One. Pistil dimensions — 2 mm long            and width is less than 0.5 mm. Stigma — Shape — Rounded.            Color — Green-yellow RHS 144D. Style — Dimensions —            Approximately 1.5 mm long. Color — Green-yellow RHS 144D.            Ovary — Position — Inferior. Color — Green-yellow RHS 144D.-   Fruit and seed: Berries are drupes appearing in summer and turn from    red to brown as they mature; shape is ovoid; base rounded, apex    rounded; size is approximately 8 mm long by 5 to 6 mm wide;    glabrous.

COMPARISON OF VOC1 WITH THE PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VOC1’ are similar to the seed parent,Viburnum odoratissimum common-form, in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However ‘VOC1’ differs from the seed parent in certaincharacteristics.

Both ‘VOC1’ and the species have a similar growth habit, plant shape andmature foliage color. However, by comparison, ‘VOC1’ is more dense andcompact, has smaller leaves and has red-colored immature foliage.

‘VOC1’ has been observed to grow to a height of approximately 3.5 mwhereas Viburnum odoratissimum plants of similar age typically reach 5m, or more. It is also noted that the species has a faster growth ratecompared to ‘VOC1’ which, when left unpruned, results in a plant with amore open habit. ‘VOC1’ has a slower rate of growth than the specieswhich results in a plant that is naturally more compact and dense. Thatis to say, ‘VOC1’ will require less pruning to maintain a smaller plantsize and dense growth habit. The leaves of ‘VOC1’ are small with averagedimensions of 70 mm long by 34 mm wide whereas the leaves of the speciesare large at approximately 80 to 90 mm long by 40 to 45 mm wide. Also ofnote is the color difference in the immature foliage. The immaturefoliage of ‘VOC1’ is generally greyed-red 181B (R.H.S. 1986 edition)whereas the foliage of the species is generally green 144B (R.H.S. 1986edition) with significantly less of the greyed-red pigmentationobserved.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VANDA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

A comparison of ‘VCO1’ with the most similar Viburnum cultivar now knownto the inventor, Viburnum hybrid ‘Le Bois Marquis’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,686), is provided below. ‘Le Bois Marquis’ is a hybrid Viburnumcultivar and not a Viburnum odoratissimum and is therefore not a truerelated variety or antecedent to ‘VOC1’ but is nonetheless the closestcomparator variety available:

-   -   1. ‘VCO1’ can grow to approximately 3.5 m tall and 2.0 m wide        when left unpruned, whereas ‘Le Bois Marquis’ grows to        approximately 2.5 m tall and 1.8 m wide if left unpruned.    -   2. Branches of ‘VCO1’ are slightly more upright than branches of        ‘Le Bois Marquis’.    -   3. The stem internodes of ‘VCO1’ are shorter than those of ‘Le        Bois Marquis’.    -   4. The mature foliage of ‘VCO1’ is approximately 70 mm long and        34 mm wide, whereas the foliage of ‘Le Bois Marquis’ is        approximately 110 mm long and 40 mm wide.    -   5. The foliage of ‘VCO1’ is elliptical to ovate, whereas the        foliage of ‘Le Bois Marquis’ is elliptical.    -   6. The predominant color of the immature foliage of ‘VCO1’ is        greyed-red, whereas the immature foliage of ‘Le Bois Marquis’ is        generally greyed-orange to greyed-purple.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Viburnumodoratissimum plant named ‘VOC1’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.